(CNN) – An adjustment to a controversial federal rule requiring employers cover contraception in their health insurance plans was labeled "dubious" by an influential group of Roman Catholic bishops on Wednesday.

The rule in question mandated all employers, including religiously affiliated organizations like hospitals and colleges, provide free contraception to employees through health insurance plans. Churches were exempted from the law.

Atlanta (CNN) – Fresh off twin victories in the Deep South, Rick Santorum's campaign Wednesday made its first ad purchase in Illinois as that state's primary shapes up as a major battle for momentum in the Republican primary race.

Santorum's campaign bought $122,500 worth of time on cable throughout the state, according to a Republican ad buying source not affiliated with the campaigns or super PACs. Illinois holds its Republican primary Tuesday.FULL POST

(CNN) – Rick Santorum on Wednesday laid out one caveat he would hold for the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico before it obtained statehood, saying the island would need to make English its principal language before it becomes a state.

Santorum portrayed the language requirement as a matter of federal law, though no language provision currently exists for territories seeking statehood. In the past, territories seeking admission to the United States have been required to adopt English as the language of state government.FULL POST

CNN's GUT CHECK | for Wednesday, March 14, 2012 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

BREAKING: Santorum in Puerto Rico speaks out on the Romney campaign: "It’s pretty sad when all you have is to do math instead of trying to go out there and win it on substance and win it on what Americans want to hear about. We’re a long, long way from over. You know what I suspect if we keep winning state after state after state he ain’t gonna be the nominee." See Jim Acosta's full interview at 5:25 ET on "The Situation Room."

San Juan, Puerto Rico (CNN) - Rick Santorum laughed out loud at a Romney campaign strategy memo that claims the former Pennsylvania Senator needs "an impossible number of delegates" to take the lead in the GOP race.

"It's pretty sad when all you have is to do math instead of trying to go out there and win it on substance and win it on what Americans want to hear about," Santorum told CNN at a town hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A Republican primary in the U.S. territory is set for Sunday.FULL POST

(CNN) – If it does come down to a two-man race for the Republican presidential nomination, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it continue until the party convention in Tampa at the end of August.

Getting to the major number of 1,144 delegates for either Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum before the convention will not be easy even though the former Massachusetts governor has an impressive lead right now.

(CNN) – Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the bestselling author of "Kosher Sex" and one-time spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson, announced Wednesday he was running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The self-proclaimed "America's Rabbi" launched his bid for New Jersey's 9th Congressional district as a Republican, saying in a statement it was the first time a Republican rabbi has run for Congress. He pledged to work for conservative values if elected to the House.FULL POST